Summary
In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee sits down with Dr. Vicki Good, Chief Clinical Officer of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), to talk about the six Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards and how, even 20 years later, they’re still the gold standard for creating safe, respectful, and high-performing work cultures in healthcare.
Dr. Good shares insights on AACN’s national research and collaborative efforts to bring these standards to life in real-world settings. They also explore how these standards apply to all healthcare environments – not just critical care – and how they’ve evolved to address interprofessional collaboration, burnout, meaningful recognition, and more.
Whether you’re a nurse leader, bedside clinician, or someone passionate about improving work culture in healthcare, this episode will leave you inspired to take action. As Vicki says, “Healthy work environments are a way to be, not a thing to do.”
About Dr. Vicki Good
Dr. Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, FAAN, is a nationally recognized leader in patient safety and healthy work environments. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and is a past president of the AACN Board of Directors. With extensive experience in executive leadership, critical care, and academic roles, Vicki is a passionate advocate for transforming workplace culture to enhance both nurse and patient outcomes .
Things You’ll Learn
- What the 6 Healthy Work Environment Standards are – and why they still matter
- How AACN is supporting implementation through national collaboratives
- Why interprofessional engagement is key to culture change
- The impact of authentic leadership from every level – not just the top
- Why “meaningful recognition” remains one of the toughest (and most important!) standards
- A practical strategy to embed HWE standards into your everyday leadership approach
Resources & Links
- AACN Healthy Work Environment Standards: aacn.org/nursing-excellence/healthy-work-environments
- Email Dr. Vicki Good: [email protected]
- Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vicki-good
- Renee’s Book – Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Get your copy
- Renee’s Book – Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too!: Get your copy
- Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program: Learn more
- Download: 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior: Get the free guide
Have a question for Renee?
Email us at [email protected] to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!
Exciting News! We’ve been featured on MillionPodcasts – a hand-curated database of amazing podcasts across various categories – in their Best 70 Healthcare Leadership Podcasts. They have also featured our podcast in their 70 Best Compassionate Leadership Podcasts, 20 Best Toxic Workplace Podcasts, and 25 Best Workplace Bullying Podcasts list.
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Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases.
